Radioiodine versus no radioiodine outcomes in low-risk differentiated thyroid cancers: A propensity-score matched analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend against radioiodine (RAI) ablation for patients with low-risk papillary microcarcinoma. However, its role in other low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients remains controversial. Here, we compare long-term outcomes with RAI versus no-RAI in a large cohort comprising all low-risk DTCs. METHODS: Patients with low-risk, histologically-proven DTC post-thyroidectomy, treated with RAI or kept on follow-up without RAI, between 1990 and 2019 were included. The main outcomes included recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival (RFS), and were validated by propensity-score matching analysis. RESULTS: Of the 2074 low-risk DTC patients (median age: 35 years), 1686 patients underwent RAI-ablation (RAI group), while 388 patients underwent no-RAI follow-up (NOI group). Over a median follow-up of 8 years (range: 3-29), the recurrence rates were similar between the RAI and NOI groups (2.0% vs. 3.3%, p = .161). The 5- and 10-year RFS probabilities were 99.2% and 97.4%, respectively in RAI group versus 98.4% and 96.2%, respectively, in NOI group (p = .055). Subgroup regression analyses showed that patients with age <55 years (p = .044), male sex (p = .015), papillary histology (p = .043), pT3a tumours (p = .049) and postoperative thyroglobulin ≥5 ng/mL (p = .002) had significantly better RFS with RAI compared to NOI follow-up. Propensity-score matching generated 776 matched pairs with no significantly different outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In low-risk DTC patients post-thyroidectomy, RAI ablation does not confer significant survival advantage over no-RAI follow-up. Further studies are required to demonstrate any long-term benefit with RAI, specifically in patients with tumour size >4 cm and elevated postoperative thyroglobulin.

Propensity Score Matched Outcome Analysis of Lobar Ablation Versus Completion Thyroidectomy in Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients: Median Follow-Up of 11 Years.

Background: Radioactive iodine lobar ablation (RAILA) of the contralateral thyroid lobe has been suggested as an alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who underwent initial hemithyroidectomy. However, data on long-term outcomes are scarce. In this study, we intended to describe the long-term outcomes of RAILA versus completion thyroidectomy in a cohort of low-risk DTC patients. Methods: Data of patients with low-risk DTC who underwent initial hemithyroidectomy, and were subsequently treated with either completion thyroidectomy or RAILA between 1996 and 2015, were collected and analyzed. The treatment outcomes included ablation rate, recurrence rate, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and adverse events, and were validated by propensity score matching analysis. Results: Of the 1243 patients (median age: 34 years, range: 5-78) with low-risk DTC, 514 patients underwent upfront RAILA while 729 patients underwent completion thyroidectomy followed by remnant ablation. The ablation rate following the first radioactive iodine (131I) cycle was 75.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 71.3-78.9] in the RAILA group versus 84.1% [CI 81.2-86.6] in the completion thyroidectomy group (p < 0.001). Over median follow-up of 11.4 years (interquartile range: 8.3-15.8), the recurrence rates between the two groups were not significantly different (1.6% [CI 0.7-3.2] vs. 1.0% [CI 0.4-2.1], respectively, p = 0.343). The product limit estimate of RFS at 10 years was 98.6% [CI 97.6-99.6%] in the RAILA group versus 99.1% [CI 98.3-99.9%] in the completion thyroidectomy group (p = 0.391). The outcomes in 497 matched pairs generated through propensity score analysis were similar. None of the patients in the RAILA group experienced permanent hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, while the corresponding rates in the completion thyroidectomy group were 10/729 (1.4%) (p = 0.006) and 5/729 (0.7%) (p = 0.080), respectively. Radiation thyroiditis was seen in 25/514 (4.9%) patients in the RAILA group versus 3/729 (0.4%) in the completion thyroidectomy group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Upfront RAILA is seen to be a noninvasive, safe, and effective alternative to surgical completion thyroidectomy in low-risk DTC patients in the absence of macroscopic malignancy in the remaining thyroid lobe.

18F-FDG Versus Non-FDG PET Tracers in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 0.9% of cancer diagnoses, and incidence and mortality rate have increased in previous years. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-computed tomography (CT) is an established modality for MM evaluation. MR imaging is helpful where 18F-FDG PET-CT is lacking. To standardize PET reporting, methods like Italian Myeloma Criteria for PET Use and Deauville criteria have been studied. Tracers like 11C-acetate and 11C-choline/18F-fluoromethylcholine (FCH) have shown higher sensitivity and detected more focal lesions and diffuse involvement than 18F-FDG PET-CT. 18F-FCH showed higher maximum standardized uptake value than 18FDG. 11C-methionine appears to be the best radiopharmaceutical, apart from 18F-FDG, for evaluating MM.

Novel Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor-Based Targeted Theranostics for Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: This exploratory study was meant to assess clinical and safety data with a novel fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-based targeted theranostics as a salvage treatment option in radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) patients who had progressed on tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Methods: Patients with metastatic RR-DTC who progressed on sorafenib/lenvatinib were prospectively recruited. If [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan demonstrated moderate-to-excellent uptake in metastases, and patients had given informed consent, they received intravenous [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA.(SA.FAPi)2 as therapy at eight-weekly intervals. The primary endpoints were thyroglobulin (Tg) response and functional imaging response. The secondary endpoints were visual analog score (VAS) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. The grading of toxicities was performed by using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAEV5.0). The sequential images were acquired by a dual-headed gamma camera, and dosimetric calculations were performed by using OLINDA/EXM V2.1. Results: Fifteen patients were recruited [age: 55 ± 9 years (range: 39-67)]. [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA.(SA.FAPi)2 had median whole-body Teff of 88.06 hours (interquartile range [IQR]: 86.6-99). The colon was identified as a critical organ. The whole-body effective dose was 1.62E-01 ± 1.53E-02 mSv/MBq. A total of 45 cycles were administered, and the median cumulative administered activity was 8.2 ± 2.7 GBq (range 5.5-14 GBq). The median absorbed doses to the tumor lesions were 1.08E+01 (IQR: 4.16E+00 to 8.97E+01) mSv/MBq per cycle. The Serum Tg level significantly decreased after treatment [(median Tg: baseline-10,549 ng/mL (IQR: 3066.5-39,450) versus at the time of assessment: 5649 ng/mL (IQR: 939.5-17,099), p = 0.0005)]. Molecular response assessment revealed no complete response; however, partial response was documented in four, and stable disease in three patients. The VASmax scores [pre-therapy: 9 (IQR: 8-10) versus follow-up: 6 (3-6) (p-0.0001)], and ECOG [3, (IQR: 2-3 vs. 2, (IQR: 2-3) (p-0.0078)] performance scores significantly improved after treatment. None of the patients experienced grade III/IV hematological, renal, or hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that the novel molecule [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA.(SA.FAPi)2 is safe, seems effective, and, most importantly, opens up a new avenue for the treatment of aggressive RR-DTC patients who have exhausted all standard line of treatments.

Chylopericardium Due to Residual Lymphangiomyoma Detected on 99mTc-Sulfur Colloid Lymphoscintigraphy.

ABSTRACT: Lymphangiomyomas are relatively rare, benign neoplasms. Many patients present with symptoms including effusions, and some cases are incidentally detected. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, but because of its location, complete surgical resection of a lymphangioma can be technically difficult, and recurrent cases can present with symptoms including effusions. 99mTc-sulfur colloid scan can be used to confirm the leak and nature of the effusion fluid. Here, we present an 8-year-old girl with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusions after lymphocele excision and total pericardiectomy. 99mTc-sulfur colloid lymphoscintigraphy was done to rule out secondary chylopericardium.

Intraosseous Medullary Fat Necrosis on 99mTc-MDP Bone Scan of Patient With Acute Pancreatitis.

Pancreatic disease can be associated with polyarthritis and panniculitis in a small number of patients, and this triad constitutes PPP syndrome. Early diagnosis is critical as it has high morbidity and mortality. Panniculitis can occur in fat present anywhere in the body. Involvement of fat in bone marrow is relatively uncommon, and radiologic imaging shows osteolytic lesions involving long bones. Here we present a case of acute pancreatitis, referred to our department for evaluation of severe joint pain and multiple bone pain. Tc-MDP scan with SPECT/CT has been done, which showed medullary expansion with heterogenous tracer uptake, that is, moth-eaten appearance.

An Unusual Case of Simultaneous Cricoid and Thyroid Cartilage Metastases from Prostatic Adenocarcinoma on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT.

Although prostate cancer can metastasize to any part of the body, laryngeal cartilage metastasis is extremely rare and few cases have been published so far. Here we present the case of a 65-year-old male patient, recently diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma, referred for staging with 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. He was found to have extensive skeletal metastasis along with cartilage metastasis involving both thyroid and cricoid cartilages.